Southern California -- this just in

Alleged parole agent shooter faces attempted murder charge

January 5, 2012 | 7:40
am

A parolee arrested in the shooting of a parole officer in Lake View Terrace will be charged with attempted murder of a police officer, authorities said Thursday.

Steven Hoff, 45, evaded officers after he shot and seriously wounded a patrol agent Wednesday afternoon, authorities said. He was arrested in Lake View Terrace after an hours-long manhunt that shut down part of the busy 210 Freeway and forced two schools to be locked down.

Law enforcement officers were looking for the suspect Wednesday because he had allegedly violated his parole. They were near a trailer in Lake View Terrace when they heard gunfire about 1:30 p.m., and a parole agent was struck in the face.

The agent was taken to a hospital, where he was in serious condition Thursday.

Hoff allegedly fled on foot, and the 210 Freeway was shut down for hours between the 118 Freeway and Sunland Boulevard as officers combed the area. The closed freeway caused a six-mile backup before it was reopened Wednesday night.

Deputies found Hoff hiding in a swimming pool, and he was bitten by a police dog as officers tried to apprehend him, authorities said.

Hoff was treated at a hospital for gunshot wounds suffered in the initial encounter, and was listed in serious condition with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Hoff was involved in a similar standoff with police in 2002 when Los Angeles SWAT officers were called to his Sylmar home, where Hoff had locked himself inside when parole agents tried to arrest him for violating parole.

Hoff was convicted of being a felon in possession of a weapon and making terrorist threats, according to court records and law enforcement authorities.